Hypertension Flashcards
What is the definition of hypertension?
Based on JNC8 Guidelines
- SBP ≥ 140 and/or DBP ≥ 90 in general patients
- SBP ≥ 150 systolic and/or DBP ≥ 90mmHg in pts >80YO
- SBP ≥ 130 and/or DBP ≥ 80 in patients with proteinuria w/ or w/o DM
- SBP ≥ 140 and/or DBP ≥ 90 in DM w/o proteinuria
What is the grading of hypertension (for adults 18 years or older?
- Normal: <130/85
- Pre-hypertension: 130-139/ 85-89
- Grade 1 Hypertension: 140-159/ 90-99
- Grade 2 Hypertension: 160- 179 / 100- 109
- Grade 3 Hypertension: > 180/ >110
- Isolated systolic hypertension: >140/ <90
How is hypertension diagnosed?
- Based on 2 Readings in 2 healthcare professional setting
- Can Dx in a single reading if there are signs of target organ damage
How do you r/o white coat hypertension?
Home BP monitoring
1) HTN if SBP ≥135/85
>135/85; averaging across 2 weeks, 2x a day w/ 2 readings each time, discarding the very first reading
- Not Reliable due to iffy compliance 🡪 can consider 24Hr ABP
- This is not used for Dx in hospital – only used in GP Setting!
2) 24 hrs ABP monitoring: HTN if
- Average daytime SBP ≥135/85
- Average night time SBP ≥120/70
- Average 24 hour SBP ≥130/80
What are the different types of HTN?
- Primary/Essential hypertension: suspect in middle aged man, w/ metabolic syndrome, smoker
- Secondary hypertension:: High BP due to a specific, potentially curable disorder.
- Refractory, Resistant hypertension: BP ≥ 140/90mmHg despite an optimal 3-drug regimen that includes a diuretic for at least 1 month to take effect.
When to screen for secondary causes of HTN?
- Resistant hypertension
- An acute rise in blood pressure developing in a patient with previous stable values
- Age less than 30 years especially with a negative family history of hypertension
- hypertensive crisis
- proven age of onset before puberty
What are the endocrine causes of HTN?
- Acromegaly
- Cushing’s
- Conn’s
- Phaeochromocytoma- TRO MEN
- Hyperthyroid: increased SBP
- Hypothyroid: Increased DBP
- OSA (STOP BANG)
- PCOS
What are the neuro causes of HTN?
- Raised ICP
- Stroke
- Autonomic dysfunction e.g. GBS, SDS
What are the iatrogenic causes of HTN?
- OCPS
- NSAIDs (uncommon unless chronic intake)
- Sympathomimetics
- Glucocorticoids
- TCM/ JAMU
- TCAs
- Cocaine
What are the renal causes of HTN?
RAS activation due to renal artery stenosis
- Young female: fibromuscular dysplasia
- elderly: atherosclerosis
Parenchymal damage/ CKD
- DM
- APKD; ask for fam hx
- SLE & other AI diseases
- Calculi
- ESRF & CLD
- Acute/ chronic glomerulonephritis (haematuria)
What are the cardio causes of HTN?
Coarctation of aorta (check signs of HF, ESM)
What are the risk factors for primary hypertension?
Non-modifiable
- Advanced age
- Family history
- Male if <45 years old
- Female if >64 years old
- Chronic conditions eg DM, hyperlipidemia
Modifiable
- High salt diet
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Smoking
- Alcohol consumption
- Obesity
- Stress
What symptoms do you need to ask TRO intracranial hypertension as a cause of 2’ hypertension?
Headache, worse in morning; N&V, Changes in Vision, Focal neuro deficits
What symptoms do you need to ask TRO stroke as a cause of 2’ hypertension?
Neurological deficits
What symptoms do you need to ask TRO OSA as a cause of 2’ hypertension?
Sleep symptoms, STOP-BANG screening
What symptoms do you need to ask TRO acromegaly as a cause of 2’ hypertension?
Compare IC photo, ring size, shoe size
What symptoms do you need to ask TRO Cushing’s as a cause of 2’ hypertension?
Weight gain, Cushingoid habitus, bruising, proximal myopathy (combing hair, hanging clothes, standing from squat, climbing stairs
What symptoms do you need to ask TRO Conn’s as a cause of 2’ hypertension?
Difficult from history; muscle weakness from hypo K?
What symptoms do you need to ask TRO Pheochromocytoma as a cause of 2’ hypertension?
EPIDOSDIC S&S: Palpitations, sweating, flushing, headaches
What symptoms do you need to ask TRO thyroid (hyperthyroid, thyroid storm) as a cause of 2’ hypertension?
LOW, palpitations, flushing, tremors, heat intolerance, diarrhea, amenorrhea
What symptoms do you need to ask TRO PCOS as a cause of 2’ hypertension?
Amenorrhea, signs of hirsutism, acne, weight gain
What symptoms do you need to ask TRO CKD as a cause of 2’ hypertension?
Difficult to screen in history – look below for physical exam finding
What symptoms do you need to ask TRO RAS as a cause of 2’ hypertension?
Frothy urine, Haematuria, oliguria, history of kidney problems
What symptoms do you need to ask TRO drugs as a cause of 2’ hypertension?
Drug history, TCM, supplements
Any missed anti-hypertensives and last dose served?
What are the symptoms of complications of HTN and how would you assess it?
Heart: Hx of AF, CAD/IHD/AMI
- Symptoms: exertional dyspnoea, SOB, orthopnoea, PND, pedal edema
Neuro: Hx of CVA/TIA, SAH
- Symptoms: neurological deficits, seizures, headache, giddiness
- To check for power, reflexes, facial features, swallowing, sensation for neurological deficits in assessing Hx of stroke
Renal: HTN Nephrosclerosis
- Symptoms: oliguria, pedal edema, hematuria, frothy urine
Eye: Hypertensive Retinopathy - Visual loss
PVD: Claudication
What is the hx approach towards hypertension
Age: Young or old
Lifestyle: Obesity, Salt, Smoking, Alcohol, Exercise, Stress, Occupation
Any headache
- Acute or chronic?
- Stress-related?
- Migraine: unilateral, aura
- Tension headaches: all around tense, throbbing
- Cluster headaches: lacrimation, rhinorrhoea
- Associated symptoms: dizziness, giddiness, sensory motor disturbances, meningism (neck stiffness, photophobia, fever? -> fever + headache, always TRO meningism), mass: (seizures), papilloedema (blurring of vision),
- Severity
Any urinary symptoms
- Nephrotic syndrome: frothy urine, blood in urine (dark coloured urine)
- RAS
- UTI: history of stones
- Uraemia: nausea/vomiting, pruritus
- Fluid overload: progressively increasing exertional dyspnoea, SOB
Medication history: OCP, NSAIDs, Recreational drugs (amphetamines, cocaine), compliance to any anti-hypertensives
Thyroid
- Neck swelling
- Hyperthyroid: Heat intolerance, Sweatiness , LOA/LOW, Palpitations (tap the beat out), Emotional eg irritable agitation
- Hypothyroid: Cold intolerance, Lethargy, Weight gain, Constipation
Phaeochromocytoma – paroxysmal!: Episodic headaches, Palpitations, Diaphoresis, Flushing, Drenching night sweats, Postural hypotension
Cushing’s
- Any medications?
- Central obesity, dorsocervical/supraclavicular fatty deposits
- Thin skin, abdominal striae
- Bruising
- Proximal weakness (climbing stairs)
Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (suspect if pt is obese and large neck circumference)
- OSA episodes produce surges in systolic and diastolic pressure that keep mean blood pressure levels elevated at night. In many patients, blood pressure remains elevated during the daytime, when breathing is normal.
- Snoring – very loud, can be heard outside the room
- Tiredness – day time somnolence (do you fall asleep when driving / reading papers? Morning headaches)
- Observed – has anyone seen you stop breathing when you sleep?
- Pressure – do you have high BP
- BMI; Age; Neck Circumference; Gender
What is the PE required to be performed in a patient with HTN?
Blood pressure
- If upper limb BP is extremely high, consider taking lower limb BP (in clinical setting) to rule out Coarctation of Aorta
- Patient seated in a chair with back supported and arms bared and supported.
- BP cuff should be at the level of the patient’s heart.
- Good night’s rest with no smoking or caffeine 30mins before measurement
- Measurement begin 5 mins after rest in a quiet room.
Appropriate cuff size (Bladder encircles at least 80% of arm)
- Take the lower of 2 or more readings (confirmed on the contralateral arm) at least 2 mins apart.
- Standing BP levels should be check during initial evaluation and after drug titrations to exclude significant orthostasis
Body mass index (BMI)
Eyes
- Fundoscopy: Features of hypertensive retinopathy leading to arteriosclerosis
- Grade 1 - Silver-wiring / Copper wiring
- Grade 2 - AV-nicking (Gunn sign)
- Grade 3 - Hemorrhages and exudates
- Grade 4 – Papilloedema
- Thyroid eye signs
Neck: Goitre, Carotid bruit,
Raised JVP
Heart and Lungs
- Cardiomegaly and CCF (S3, - Rales, Crepitations)
- Valvular heart disease
- Clicks (prosthetic valve) and murmurs (ESM in Coarctation of aorta)
- Radio-femoral delay OR radial-radial delay (coarctation of aorta)
- Apex beat displacement
- Pulse
- Arm to leg SBP difference >20mm Hg (coarctation of aorta)
Abdomen
- Renal bruits (RAS)
- Ballotable kidneys: PCOS/APKD
- Ascites
- Aortic aneurysm
- Truncal obesity with abdominal striae (Cushing’s)
- Enlarged uterus?
Lower limbs
- Peripheral pulses
- Features of Peripheral vascular disease
Neurological assessment
- Neurological deficits
- Pronator drift
- Facial weakness
What are the investigations TRO Intracranial hypertension as a cause of HTN?
- LP to measure opening pressure
- Fundoscopy: to check for papilloedema
- CT scan to assess elevated ICP
What are the investigations TRO OSA as a cause of HTN?
Sleep study – polysomnography 🡪 only if u suspect (eg: obese)